Nicholas Pooran of West Indies. File | Photo Credit: AFP
Star West Indies Batter Nicholas Pooran on Tuesday (June 10, 2025) stunningly announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 29 without specifying any factors but asserted that “many thinking and constipation” called.
His decision came days after he had a choice for the T20I series against England.
The Swashbuckling Left-Hand Batter ended as West Indies’s most capped T20i player with 106 matches and also the highest run-getter, tally 2275 on average 26.14 and strike rate of 136.39. In the 61 shows of ODI, he scored 1983 running an average of 39.66 and a strike rate of 99.15.
“After over-thinking and reflection, I decided to express my retirement from International Cricket,” Poran, a former captain of the West Indies White-Ball, wrote on his social media pages.
“This game that we love is given and will continue to provide excessively – joy, purpose, unforgettable memories, and an opportunity to represent people of West Indies,” Trinidadian said to make his international debut in 2016 in a T20 International Match.
He did not play a Cricket test for his country.
“Wearing that maroon, standing for the song, and giving everything I have every time I walk to the farm … It’s hard to put in words what really means to me. The leading team as a captain is a privilege that I will always hold in my heart,” he said.
Poran recently selected for the West Indies’ T20I series against England after playing the entire Indian Premier League (IPL) period for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Nicholas Pooran, a West Indies Record ‘holder in T20s, retired from International Cricket
West Indian Nicholas Pooran announced his retirement from international cricket at age 29 who brought shock waves around cricketing circles.
Announced on his retirement on Instagram, Poran said “wearing a maroon, standing for the song, and giving all my time to walk on the farm … It is hard to put words on what really meant to me,” he wrote. “Leading the team as a captain is a privilege that I will always be close to my heart.”
Nicholas Pooran was suspended briefly in late 2019 after admitting the ball against Afghanistan, and was overcome to be given West Indies T20 Vice-Captain about 18 months later for a tour by Australia. But he became a captain without Kieron Pollard playing, and led the team in a 4-1 series win.
Nicholas Pooran starred when the West Indies hosted the T20 World Cup last year, caught up with Chris Gayle as the team’s leading scorer, and hit his highest T20, 98 score against Afghanistan.
Nicholas Pooran did not represent his country in trials, but played 61 Odis marking 1,983 running a average of 39.66 with a three -century at a 99.15 strike rate. He is also represented by 106 T20 internationals marking 2275 runs on average 26.14 with 98 with his highest score. His strike rate at T20IS was 136.39. He also took 6 wickets to Odis.
Cricket West Indies praised Poran as a game changing, and with “heartfelt gratitude and appreciation … for his outstanding contributions. His performances in the field and influence within the team made a long-term impact on West Indies Cricket.”
Representing Lucknow Super Giants at the finished IPL, Nicholas Pooran hit the greatest number of sixes in Tournamnet Viz. 40.
Although it was not immediately known that Nicholas Pooran represents the franchises he signed, he played 398 T20s and scored 9166 running a average of 29.47 with a three -centuries with a healthy strike rate of 150.53
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He has not featured in Odis since the release of the West Indies’ in the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers. His last match for West Indies was against Bangladesh in Kingstown in December 2024.
“To the fans – thank you for your relentless love. You raised me in difficult moments and celebrated the good ones with unmatched desires. To my family, friends and colleagues – thanks for walking on my journey with me. Your beliefs and support brought me to everyone,” he wrote.
“Although this international chapter of my career closes, my love for West Indies Cricket will never be lost. I want the team and the region to do nothing but success and strength for the way ahead.” A regular circuit of the franchise, is expected to feature Poran in the Major League Cricket (MLC) and this road. Aside from the Caribbean Premier League and the IPL, he is also a regular ILT20 in the UAE.
He had a wonderful period in 2024, hitting the most sixes in a calendar year (170) before the end of the IPL 2025 with 524 running at a 196.25 strike rate with five a half centuries.
He is expected to be a major part of West Indies ‘plans’ for the T20 World Cup early next year, before the announcement of the shock of Tuesday.
Cricket West Indies praised Poran for his outstanding contribution to the Caribbean Cricket.
“Nicholas has officially informed the leadership of his decision to retire from international cricket, bringing a closely a significant chapter to his career,” he said.
“A player world class and a game changing, Nicholas left the game as the most capped West Indian … His performances in the field and influence within the team made a long-term impact on West Indies Cricket.
“We congratulate his accomplishments and thank him for the moments he has given to fans across the region and beyond. We wish him all the best in the next stage of his journey.”
